James Oswald (younger)
Encyclopedia
James Oswald was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons
from 1741 to 1768.
Oswald was the son of James Oswald a politician of Kirkcaldy
. He was admitted at Lincolns Inn in 1733
The Oswald family became the dominant force in Kirkcaldy politics in the 18th century and Dysart, the second largest burgh was controlled by the St. Clair interest. The combined Oswald and St. Clair influence often decided who was to be elected. Oswald was elected Member of Parliament
for Dysart Burghs in 1741 and was a Commissioner of the Navy in 1745. In 1747 he exchanged the seat with James St Clair
and was elected MP for Fife
until 1754. In 1752 he was Commissioner for trade and plantations. Oswald exchanged seats with James St Clair
again in 1754 and was elected MP for Dysart Burghs. He was Lord of the Treasury in 1760 and Vice Treasurer of Ireland in 1763. He retired in 1768 when his son James Townsend Oswald
took over the seat.
Oswald died at the age of 52.
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
from 1741 to 1768.
Oswald was the son of James Oswald a politician of Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
. He was admitted at Lincolns Inn in 1733
The Oswald family became the dominant force in Kirkcaldy politics in the 18th century and Dysart, the second largest burgh was controlled by the St. Clair interest. The combined Oswald and St. Clair influence often decided who was to be elected. Oswald was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Dysart Burghs in 1741 and was a Commissioner of the Navy in 1745. In 1747 he exchanged the seat with James St Clair
James St Clair
General The Hon. James St Clair , was a Scottish soldier and Whig politician.-Background:St Clair was the second son of Henry St Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair and his wife Grizel Cockburn, daughter of Sir James Cockburn, 1st Baronet...
and was elected MP for Fife
Fife (UK Parliament constituency)
Fife was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1885, when it was divided into East Fife and West Fife....
until 1754. In 1752 he was Commissioner for trade and plantations. Oswald exchanged seats with James St Clair
James St Clair
General The Hon. James St Clair , was a Scottish soldier and Whig politician.-Background:St Clair was the second son of Henry St Clair, 10th Lord Sinclair and his wife Grizel Cockburn, daughter of Sir James Cockburn, 1st Baronet...
again in 1754 and was elected MP for Dysart Burghs. He was Lord of the Treasury in 1760 and Vice Treasurer of Ireland in 1763. He retired in 1768 when his son James Townsend Oswald
James Townsend Oswald
James Townsend Oswald was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1768 and 1779.Oswald was the son of James Oswald a politician of Kirkcaldy. The Oswald family became the dominant force in Kirkcaldy politics in the 18th century and Dysart, the second largest burgh was...
took over the seat.
Oswald died at the age of 52.